PHP dirname( ) Function

The dirname() function in PHP is an inbuilt function which is used to return the directory name of a given path. The dirname() function is used to parent directory’s path i.e levels up from the current directory.

The dirname() function returns the path of a parent directory which includes a dot (‘.’) if the path has no slashes, indicating the current directory.

Syntax:

string dirname ( $path )

Parameters: The dirname() function in PHP accepts only one parameter which is $path. This parameter specifies the path to be checked.

Return Value: It returns the path of the parent directory.

Errors And Exception:

1. While specifying a path both slashes, forward slash (/) and backslash (\) are used as directory separator character in a windows environment whereas in other environments, it is just the forward slash (/).
2. The dirname() function operates on the input string and therefore it is not aware of the actual filesystem, or path components such as “..”.

Examples:

Input : dirname("user01/geeksforgeeks/gfg.txt")
Output : user01/geeksforgeeks

Input : dirname("/geeksforgeeks/gfg.txt");
Output : /geeksforgeeks

Below programs illustrate the dirname() function:

Program 1:

<?php

// specifying path to the dirname() function
echo dirname("user01/geeksforgeeks/gfg.txt")

?>

Output:

user01/geeksforgeeks

Program 2:

<?php

// specifying path to the dirname() function
echo dirname("/geeksforgeeks/gfg.txt");

?>

Output:

/geeksforgeeks

Reference:
http://php.net/manual/en/function.dirname.php